College Football; Syracuse Gets Some Big Help

By GORDON S. WHITE Jr., Special to the New York Times

Published: November 23, 1987

SYRACUSE, Nov. 22—
When Michael Owens ran into the corner of the end zone for a 2-point conversion with 10 seconds left to give Syracuse a thrilling 32-31 victory over West Virginia Saturday night, he enabled the Orange to complete an undefeated season and kept alive the team's chances for the final No. 1 ranking.

But a lot more things have to fall into place for the Orange to be the top team.

One of the most exciting finishes in the 98 years of Syracuse football was only the last of the day's unexpected events, all of which enhanced the Orangemen's aspirations. Now all Syracuse has to do is continue unbeaten with a victory over its Southeastern Conference opponent in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, and hope for the best in the other bowl games.

Syracuse drove 76 yards in seven plays in the last 90 seconds - five pass completions in seven attempts by Don McPherson, including the touchdown pass to Pat Kelly that pulled the Orange to 31-30. Then McPherson, the quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate, pitched back to Owens for the winning 2-point play nearly five hours after Syracuse had accepted the Sugar Bowl bid. Contenders Eliminated

Earlier Saturday, Penn State, which is to meet Clemson in the Florida Citrus Bowl, Jan. 1, upset Notre Dame, 21-20, when the Irish failed on a 2-point conversion in the final seconds. This took the Irish out of the race for the No. 1 ranking, leaving one team fewer for Syracuse to worry about.

Undefeated Oklahoma surprised with a substitute quarterback and superb defense to beat Nebraska, 17-7. Thus, one other team was probably eliminated from consideration for the top ranking.

Also, U.C.L.A. was upset by Southern California, 17-13, so another team was knocked out of contention.

Nebraska (9-1), Oklahoma (11-0), Miami (9-0), Florida State (9-1) and U.C.L.A. (9-2) were ranked just above Syracuse, which was No. 6 in The Associated Press poll last week with Notre Dame (8-2) at No. 7. That means three close contenders for top billing were eliminated Saturday, and the other three probably have to lose once for Syracuse to make it all the way to the top.

Florida State was No. 1 in The New York Times computer ranking last week while Syracuse and Notre Dame were tied for sixth. Necessary Losses

For Syracuse to finish on top in the A.P. vote when all the bowl dust settles, the chances are that Miami, with two regular-season games to go, must lose one of them and then beat Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1. Florida State, with one regular-season game left, must lose to Florida next week or to Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl.

If all this happens and Syracuse beats either Auburn, Alabama or L.S.U. in the Sugar Bowl, the Orangemen will have a chance to gain the national championship as they did in 1959, Syracuse's only other unbeaten season. If Auburn beats Alabama Friday, the War Eagles go to the Sugar Bowl. L.S.U. concluded its regular season yesterday by beating Tulane, 41-36. L.S.U. may be the Syracuse opponent in the Sugar Bowl if Alabama beats Auburn.

Notre Dame and South Carolina (8-2) are Miami's remaining foes. Either of them could beat the Hurricanes, who beat Toledo, 24-14, Saturday while South Carolina, going to the Gator Bowl, upset Clemson, 20-7.

Given this scenario, Coach Dick MacPherson of Syracuse said it may not have to happen that way at all for his team to be the final top-ranked team.

''When it's all over and you look at the numbers and who beat whom,'' MacPherson said. ''That's that simple.''

He referred to two things: Florida State already has one loss - to Miami by a single point - and Oklahoma's schedule has not been as strong as the Syracuse card. Dueling Showdowns

Obviously, the Sugar Bowl officials will say they have a team in contention for the No. 1 ranking, just as the Orange Bowl people are saying they have the showdown for No. 1.

Notre Dame, as expected, agreed to play in the Cotton Bowl against the winner of the Texas-Texas A&M game this Thursday. That bowl game won't produce a No. 1 team nor will the Rose Bowl matchup of Southern California and Michigan State.

In other bowl matchups made official Saturday, Indiana was pitted against Tennessee in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 2 after the Hoosiers beat Purdue, 35-14, and the Vols defeated Kentucky, 24-22; Michigan took a Hall of Fame bid to meet a Southeastern Conference team on Jan. 2, after the Wolverines were beaten by Ohio State, 23-20, on a late field goal by Matt Franz.

Earle Bruce, Ohio State's coach, went out with head held high just five days after being dismissed.

Iowa, another Big Ten team, agreed to play Wyoming, the Western Athletic Conference champion, in the Holiday Bowl Dec. 30. Wyoming clinched its first W.A.C. title in 11 years when it defeated Texas-El Paso, 37-13.

Pittsburgh became the third major team from the East to reach a bowl when the Panthers, who beat Notre Dame earlier in the season, whipped Kent State, 28-5, and decided to play in the Bluebonnet Bowl Dec. 31 against the loser of the Texas-Texas A&M game.